With the 100th running of the Louisiana Derby set for March 30 at the Fair Grounds, we take a look back at some of the top horses to win the race. They are listed chronologically.

BLACK GOLD – 1924

The tale of the first Louisiana Derby winner to capture the Run for the Roses is equal parts happiness and tragedy.

Black Gold began his career at the Fair Grounds on Jan. 8, 1923. He won nine of 18 races as a 2-year-old. His 3-year-old season began with two more wins before his first stakes try in the Louisiana Derby.

He romped home that day on a muddy track to win "in a canter" by six lengths. He shipped to Churchill Downs next to capture the Derby Trial and went into the Kentucky Derby as the favorite.

That particular Derby was the 50th anniversary of the race and was named the "Golden Jubilee Derby." Despite a rough trip, Black Gold got up in the last few yards to nip Chilhowee for the win.

Black Gold skipped the Preakness and Belmont to win the Ohio State Derby and then the Chicago Derby. He was the first horse to ever win a Derby in four different states.

Quarter cracks in his hooves initially forced Black Gold to retire to stud but fertility problems sent him back to the racetrack at the age of 6.

In his only start at 7, he broke down on the Fair Grounds homestretch and finished the race with three good legs. He was euthanized and buried in the Fair Grounds infield next to Pan Zareta.

Black Gold finished his career with a record of 35:18-5-4 and $110,553 in earnings. He was elected to the Fair Grounds Hall of Fame in 1971 and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1989.

Black Gold's memory lives on in the form of a Hollywood movie and a children's book. The Black Gold Stakes is now run annually at the Fair Grounds in his honor.

The tradition is for the winning jockey of the race to place a wreath on his grave in remembrance.

GREEK SHIP – 1950

Greek Ship had quite the family history to live up to. His sire was two-time leading sire Heliopolis, and his grandsire, Man o' War, often considered the greatest horse of all time.

Greek Ship was no Man o' War, but he sure didn't hurt the family reputation. He was the winner of several stakes races, including the Flash Stakes, Metropolitan Handicap, Monmouth Handicap and Louisiana Derby.

As a 2-year-old, he won three stakes races from nine starts, including the Wakefield Handicap, the Flash Stakes and Mayflower Stakes.

Greek Ship entered the Louisiana Derby as a favorite in a coupled entry with stablemate Sungglow. He carried the high impost of 123 pounds (11 more than any competitor), and held off his stablemate by half-length to win handily on a fast track.

He didn't make the Kentucky Derby after scratching on race day. Instead, he joined a small list of 3-year-olds to beat older horses in the Metropolitan Handicap.

Greek Ship raced until he was 5 years old, winning several handicaps that year. His final race was a third-place finish in the Trenton Handicap.

He retired with a career record of 54:17-9-7 and earnings of $312,050.

ADMIRAL'S VOYAGE – 1962

Admiral's Voyage was a nice horse at 3. He was better when he was older.

At 3, he won two sprint stakes at Santa Anita before moving on to the Louisiana Derby. He closed in the stretch to win by a nose after bumping several horses. Despite a steward's inquiry, the result stood.

Next, he dead-heated in the Wood Memorial and was placed first through disqualification.

Admiral's Voyage faded to ninth in the Kentucky Derby after holding the lead at the quarter pole. He rebounded to finish second in the Belmont Stakes by a nose.

As a handicap horse at 4 and 5, Admiral's Voyage won the Carter, Midwest and San Carlos Handicaps. He retired with a career record of 52:12-10-11 and $455,879 in earnings.

Admiral's Voyage was widely considered a failure at stud, with only eight stakes winners to his credit. But he did sire Pas de Nom, the dam of Danzig.

Danzig went on to become one of the most important sires of the 20th century, siring 188 graded stakes winners, including Lure, Chief's Crown, Dance Smartly, Danehill and War Chant.

MASTER DERBY – 1975

When it comes to the racehorses of 1975, Master Derby never really had a chance.

The Eclipse Awards read like a who's who of racing that year. The great gelding Forego won Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year, Susan's Girl was champion Older Female, and the late Ruffian champion 3-year-old filly. Three-year-old male honors went to Claiborne Farm's Wajima.

Master Derby became a footnote in the ill-fated match race between Ruffian and Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. He was originally included as the third horse in the race, but was scratched after his owner was paid $50,000 to drop out.

The son of Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander, the colt placed first or second in all 12 of his starts at 2. He lost his first two starts at 3 before ripping off wins in the Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes, the Louisiana Derby and the Blue Grass.

Master Derby was shipped to Churchill Downs, where he ran into Foolish Pleasure and finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby. He rebounded to win the Preakness and finish third in the Belmont.

He returned at 4 to win the New Orleans Handicap, Louisiana Handicap and Oaklawn Handicap before running second in the Metropolitan Handicap to Forego. He was retired to stud with a career record of 33:16-8-4 and earnings of $698,625.

Master Derby was inducted into the Fair Grounds Hall of Fame in 1992. He was euthanized in 1999 due to the infirmities of old age at Notjustanotherfarm in California. He was 27.

GOLDEN ACT – 1979

Some consider the 1970s the last "golden age" of horse racing. From 1973-1978, the racing world saw three Triple Crown winners.

Then came Spectacular Bid in 1979, a horse considered the most talented to never sweep the series of races.

With so many good horses during the decade, there were undoubtedly horses unlucky enough to have been born in those same years. Sham, Alydar and Run Dusty Run were three of those.

Then there was Golden Act.

The colt was always supposed to be pointed to turf races. But the Triple Crown chase derailed those plans. Nevertheless, he proved his worth on dirt.

Golden Act didn't do much at 2, but he started off his 3-year-old campaign with an allowance win. It was all stakes races from that point.

He finished second in the California Derby before moving on to New Orleans.

The heavy favorite, he closed in the stretch as pacesetter Spartan Emperor faded badly. Golden Act won by more than a length over Rivalero.

He won the Arkansas Derby next before heading to Kentucky. Golden Act placed in all three Triple Crown races, finishing third in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Preakness, and second in the Belmont.

The Belmont Stakes was notable for the stunning upset of Spectacular Bid, who struggled home third behind winner Coastal. It was later discovered that the colt stepped on a safety pin in his stall before the race.

Switched to turf after a fourth-place finish in the Swaps Stakes, Golden Act won his next three of four races, all graded stakes.

He was never as good as he was in his 3-year-old season, and failed to win a race at 4, although he did hit the board in four graded stakes races that year.

Golden Act retired at 4 with earnings of $928,268 and a record of 30:8-7-8. He was named the California Horse of the Year in 1979.

WOODCHOPPER – 1981

The Woodchopper Stakes is run on turf annually at the Fair Grounds. But interestingly enough, Woodchopper never ran on the surface.

The horse raced once at 2, where he failed to break his maiden. He came back at 3 to rip off three straight wins at the Fair Grounds, including a score in the Louisiana Derby over favored A Run.

Ridden by Jorge Velasquez, Woodchopper broke second-to-last in a field of 13 and was still in ninth at the quarter pole. In fourth at the top of the stretch, he made a strong close to win by a length.

Woodchopper finished third in the Arkansas Derby and second in the Kentucky Derby. Woodchopper was stuck behind horses early and couldn't catch winner Pleasant Colony, despite a powerful closing kick. He lost by three-quarters of a length. Pleasant Colony would go on to be voted champion 3-year-old male.

Woodchopper was forced into a speed duel with Bold Ego in the Preakness, and finished 11th after being bumped severely. His last race was a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes on June 6, 1981.

Woodchopper retired with $232,163 in career earnings and a record of 9:3-1-2. He stood stud at Indian Hill farm, where he died at 6. He produced only one crop of foals before his untimely death.

RISEN STAR – 1988

Risen Star saved his best for last.

On a sunny day in 1988, he came flying down the stretch of Belmont Park under a hand ride. To those watching, he looked like the second coming of his sire Secretariat.

Risen Star easily dispatched his five contenders, including Kentucky Derby winning filly Winning Colors, to win the Belmont Stakes by almost 15 lengths. He finished the 1 1/2- mile distance in 2:26 2/5.

"He looks like his daddy out there!" the track announcer screamed as he increased his lead down the stretch. Only his father who covered the distance in world record time of 2:24, had run the race faster.

If he wasn't the second coming of his father that day, he proved he was his best son. Unfortunately, Risen Star never raced again after the Belmont, prompting questions as to how good the colt could have been.

Owners Louie Roussel and Ronnie Larmarque kept him in Louisiana for most of his career. He debuted with a stakes win and won another race at 2. He kicked off his 3-year-old season with wins in the Louisiana Derby and Lexington Stakes before the Kentucky Derby.

A troubled trip, where he was stuck behind horses and forced wide, kept him out of the winner's circle. He placed third in the Derby but easily won the Preakness.

Following the Belmont, Roussel and Larmarque sold a half-interest in the horse for $7 million to Walmac International Farm in Lexington, Ky. His worth as a potential stallion, and a nagging ankle injury, sent him to the sideline permanently.

Risen Star's ankle had been bothering him all spring, to the point where Roussel was convinced they would scratch from the Preakness until one hour prior to post time. The injury flared up again following his performance in the Belmont and he was retired in July.

Roussel said at the time he couldn't live with himself if something happened to the colt.

"It's one thing to send a horse out to a race when he's 100 percent and then just have him break down: it's another thing to send him out with any doubt," he said.

Risen Star won the Eclipse Award for best 3-year-old male despite racing only half the year. He was retired to Walmac and died of colic at the age of 13.

Today, Roussel looks back at Risen Star's career with fond memories, and a little wistfulness.

"If he'd got through on the rail he would have won the Kentucky Derby," he said. "I won't take anything away from Winning Colors, because she was a great filly, but I always tell D. Wayne Lukas 'he got a gift that day.'

"He shouldn't have lost the Derby ... but it was a great time when it was going on. It was the best time in my life."

DISPERSAL – 1989

Dispersal came out of nowhere to win the Louisiana Derby.

The colt was a bargain buy for Harry and Tom Meyerhoff, who owned Spectacular Bid. Purchased for $45,000 at the 1987 Keeneland Fall sale, he was put in the care of Bud Delp, who also trained "The Bid."

He ate slow, drank water slow and "walked like a cow but ran like a cat," according to Delp.

He didn't race at all as a 2-year-old due to shin problems, but won three times in 26 days to kick off his career as a 3-year-old.

In the Louisiana Derby, Dispersal went to an early lead under jockey Jose Santos and held a two-length advantage around the final turn. Despite a late bid by Majesty's Imp, he held on for the win.

Shin problems struck again after shipping out of New Orleans, where he placed second in the Blue Grass Stakes and fourth in the Lexington Stakes. Delp decided to keep him off the Triple Crown trail.

Sunday Silence went on to capture the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before losing to Easy Goer in the Belmont in what is now considered a rivalry for the ages.

Dispersal won two more stakes at 3 and ended that season with a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. He returned at 4 to capture six races, including the Grade I Woodward.

His last start was in the 1990 Breeders' Cup Classic, a race he was favored to win. He placed 12th, however

Dispersal was initially going to race at 5, but retired after injuring an ankle. He finished with a record of 22:12-3-1 and earnings of $1,461,137.

GRINDSTONE – 1996

Brief but brilliant described Grindstone's career.

Grindstone, a gray colt by Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled, only raced six times. Much like Unbridled's Song, another Unbridled colt from the same crop, he was beset with soundness problems.

Grindstone had a brief but brilliant career before being retired.

He started his career off with a bang, with a five-length win in his debut. Placed into graded stakes company in his second start, he could only muster a fourth-place finish.

His 2-year-old campaign ended shortly afterward when bone chips were found in his knee and had to be surgically removed.

Grindstone came back at three to win the Louisiana Derby by 3 1/2 lengths over favored Zarb's Magic. They faced off again in the Arkansas Derby the next month, with Zarb's Magic getting the nod by a neck.

The bay son of Kentucky Derby Unbridled would repeat his sire's feat in his next race. In the closest finish since 1959, Grindstone thrust his nose in front of Cavonnier to win at the wire.

Grindstone was retired immediately following the Kentucky Derby after bone chips were discovered again in the same knee. He finished with a record of 6:3-2-0 and $1,224,510 in earnings.

"It's a loss, as if someone told you your NBA or NFL star would not play in the next round of the tournament," Lukas said after Grindstone’s retirement was announced. "You learn to accept these things. With all of our horses, you know it's going to happen somewhere. You just didn't expect it to be the Kentucky Derby winner."

Now 20, he stands stud at Oakhurst Farm in Oregon. His best son to date has been Birdstone, who shocked the racing world in 2004 when he upset Smarty Jones in the Belmont Stakes. Through Birdstone, he is the grandsire of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird.

PEACE RULES – 2003

For all of Bobby Frankel's accomplishments, the legendary trainer could never win the Kentucky Derby. 2003 was perhaps his best chance.

Frankel had a pair of talented 3-year-old colts that year, Empire Maker, and his lesser known stablemate Peace Rules.

The chestnut colt had an inauspicious beginning. He lost his first two starts on dirt, and was transferred to the turf, where he finished four lengths in front under a hand ride. Initially trained by Gary Contessa, Peace Rules was sold following his win and transferred to Frankel's barn.

He won two of his next three races, all turf stakes, before switching back to dirt for his 3-year-old debut in the Louisiana Derby. He got his first win on the dirt that day in a stalking trip off pacesetter Funny Cide, before drawing away to win by two lengths.

Funny Cide placed third but was moved up to second after Kafwain was disqualified.

Peace Rules next won the Blue Grass Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths before going on to the Kentucky Derby. There he finished third behind Funny Cide and Empire Maker.

He raced four more times at 3, winning the Haskell and placing second in the Travers.

At 4, he defeated Funny Cide in the New Orleans Handicap and won the Oaklawn Handicap. In his final win, he defeated Funny Cide one more time, winning by a neck after outlasting a three-horse duel with Funny Cide and Newfoundland.

He finished sixth in the Whitney, which would be his last race. He was retired afterward when a filling was found in his left leg.

Peace Rules retired with a career record of 19:9-2-2, including eight stakes wins, and career earnings of $3,084,278.

He retired to stud at Vinery Stables but was sold to the Korea Racing Authority in 2009. The 12-year-old stallion still stands there today.

Peace Rules was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame in 2011.